Look who's missing and look who isn'tBrian Cushing is on hand for organized team activities, but Andre Johnson, unhappy with his contract, is a no-show

JOHN McCLAIN , Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle |
May 17, 2010

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson has been selected to the Pro Bowl in four of his seven NFL seasons.

Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson missed the first day of the Texans’ organized team activities Monday because he is unhappy with his contract.

The 14 OTAs are not mandatory like the June minicamp.

Johnson, 28, who is regarded as the best receiver in the NFL, has five years remaining on his contract, including this season, and will make a base salary of $5.8 million in 2010.

In March 2007, Johnson (6-3, 225 pounds) signed an eight-year, $60 million extension that included $15 million in guaranteed money.

“I’m not real worried because we re-did him with two years left on his original deal, and that was three years ago,” general manager Rick Smith said Monday. “Over the first three years of that deal, I think if you even ask him, he’s been well-compensated.”

Johnson, who has 216 catches for 3,144 yards and 17 touchdowns the past two seasons, has earned almost $26 million on the new deal.

“He’s got five years left on his deal now (and) we’re willing to sit down and talk with him, and he knows that,” Smith said.

Johnson’s contract, beginning this season, has base salaries of $5.8 million (2010), $6.8 million (2011), $7.3 million (2012), $7 million (2013) and $7.3 million (2014).

Johnson’s original contract, signed after he was the third overall pick in the 2003 draft, was for $39 million over six years, including $13.5 in guaranteed money.

“This is voluntary,” coach Gary Kubiak said of Monday’s OTA. “Obviously, we want Andre here. I know he and Rick are talking, so we’ll get it worked out. We’re not worried about Andre. He’ll do his job.”

The Texans have a policy of not negotiating with players who aren’t present.

“That’s exactly right,” Smith said. “If you think back to DeMeco Ryans last year, I thought one of the things that was real smart on his part was the fact that he was upset that we had not been able to come to terms with an agreement, but he came back and he was a part of the offseason program. He was with his teammates. He was a leader. He did things the right way. He played his contract out, and he was rewarded.”

Ryans, 25, signed a new six-year contract worth $48 million, including $21.75 guaranteed.

“Those are the type of situations and circumstances that we like, and all of our guys understand that,” Smith said.

Pro Bowl natural

Johnson has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times in his seven NFL seasons.

“Other receivers will have to step up and show they can play, which they’ve done in the past,” quarterback Matt Schaub said. “Our other receivers have played in big games, and they’ve played well. Andre’s our No. 1 option, of course, but we’ll get things worked out, and he’ll be back, and the offense won’t skip a beat.”

Last season, Melton created a controversy when he told ESPN the Magazine in November that he had an exit strategy for his nephew if the Texans didn’t make the playoffs.

“That didn’t come from me,” Johnson said at the time. “I wish he hadn’t said what he said, but that’s his opinion. I make my own decisions, and I plan on being here until I retire.

“I’m not going to lie: he (Melton) has brought it to my attention, and he has a right to his opinion. I didn’t go to him with it. I don’t think it’s a big deal.”

Because the OTAs aren’t mandatory, Johnson can’t be fined. If he misses training camp, that’s a different story.

“I can’t answer that,” Smith said about the possibility of Johnson holding out in training camp. “I’m not in control of that.

Importance recognized

“Andre is hugely important to this organization and its success and our ability to go do what we want to do this fall. So I have no issues with Andre. You like to have all your people out here working, especially when we’re trying to go do something we never have done (make the playoffs), but as we talked about last week, you’ve got to be able to deal with distractions.”